To:
Faculty, staff and students,
I would like to share with you an announcement I am making this afternoon so you are aware of some important next steps in our strategic planning process.

A common theme we have heard in the many meetings I have had with UAB's major constituency groups on and off campus, including faculty, staff, students, alumni and other supporters, is a desire to have an independent financial firm evaluate the numbers that served as a basis for our decisions in the Athletic Department.

I have listened, and I agree that if an independent financial review is needed to verify the credibility of our numbers, then that is what we should do.

To that end, we have formed a committee representative of our constituents to select a firm to review our initial report. This new committee will be led by National Alumni Society President Wes Smith. Other committee members are:
Shannon Ealy – Interim Athletic Director
Chad Epps – President of the Faculty Senate
Don Hire – UAB Athletics, Champions Club
Harold Jones – Head of our athletic director search committee and also our former lead in NCAA certification
Steve Mitchell – A former UAB athlete
Anjali Wagle – President of the Student Government Association

Once a firm is selected, we will ask that a report be completed within 90 days. While this report is being developed, we will continue to have dialogue with all stakeholders on this important matter.

I'm sure a question is: Are you bringing back football? Only after an independent review of the numbers will we have the ability to have a credible and constructive dialogue about moving forward. It is important to note that we will not field a football team in 2015.
I want to thank everyone for their engagement and suggestions in this process. I hope this decision is well received as a positive step to moving the UAB community forward.